Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
It could only be one or all of the Sovereigns that had made him do this. Which meant, in my mind, they were all-out evil.
A rumble raced along the ground as it abruptly heaved and shifted. Statues swayed. Pebbles shook. Urns trembled. Coffins clattered. Dust sifted down from the ceiling cracks.
My pulse quickening again, I shot out my hand, bracing it on the knobby stone wall for balance. If this wasn’t a singular occurrence, it would explain why so many items had toppled over.
As soon as the quake passed, I got moving. With only my moonlight sparks to light my way, I had to be extra careful where I stepped—especially when there so many large fissures in the ground, not to mention many fallen items to trip over.
Dust and pebbles crunched underfoot, taking away any shot I had at stealth. But it didn’t seem wise to move slowly anyway—not even in the name of cautiousness. A falling statue could easily knock me unconscious, just as a hole in the ground could easily swallow me up.
Something brushed against my ankle as a dark, small creature skittered along the ground and disappeared into the thick shadows. I squeaked in surprise, my heart skipping, my hand jerking … at which point my sparks winked out, flooding the passage in darkness.
Cursing beneath my breath, I conjured flickers of moonlight again. I had no clue what little beast had just given me a fright, nor did I care to find out. I just wanted out of here.
I walked on, splashing through puddles. I hoped the ceiling wasn’t this low throughout the entire passage, or my back and shoulders would be aching in no time from all the bending.
I frowned as a sound reached me. Echoes of hissing. It didn’t seem like that of an animal.
Please don’t be an animal.
The ground started to tremble once more. Stumbling, I placed a hand on a statue, wrinkling my nose at the feel of the scabby mold there. Okay, these quakes could get annoying fast.
The moment the ground stopped heaving, I was on the move. I couldn’t help but wince at the level of noise I made. There was nothing I could do, though; nowhere to step that wasn’t covered in dust and debris.
Soon, I came upon the source of the mysterious hissing. Not an animal. Not even close.
Ropes of hot steam were sporadically bursting out of holes in the ground.
What in the hell?
Clenching my jaw, I inwardly swore. I wouldn’t be able to skirt the obstacle. The cluster of holes spanned the width of the passage. I watched the holes carefully for long minutes, timing the eruptions of steam; trying to spot a pattern. There were none. The bursts were completely random.
I was just going to have to make a run for it and hope for the best.
What a great plan.
Nervousness pounding through my blood, I absently fisted my free hand, grunting as my nails stabbed my sore palm through the cloth still wrapped around it. Relaxing my hand, I blew out a breath and took off.
Several hisses sounded. Steam blazed right up the entirety of my left side, singeing cloth and flesh. Fucking ow.
Passing the holes, I stumbled to a halt, squeezing my eyes shut at the horrendous searing burn; my moonlight sparks blowing out. Every part of my side from my ankle to my scalp felt like it was on fire. My ear … Gods, my ear. It throbbed so badly it felt double its true size, but I didn’t dare touch it.
Totally. Freaking. Loathed this place.
Everything about it was the opposite of humane.
I couldn’t help but think of Talon; couldn’t help but wonder if he’d experienced these scalding burns as a little boy; if maybe his injuries had been even worse.
I stood still as I waited for the worst of the pain to pass. It didn’t come close to subsiding. It continued to blaze and pulse and make my eyes well up.
Dabbing at my tears with the corner of my sleeve, I once more called to my power to break up the darkness. Two more circuits. I had two more left after this one was done. That thought was enough to get me moving again.
It hurt so much to walk; made my scorched flesh feel like it was being stretched and scalded all over again. I tried to think past it, knowing that I needed to stay sharp.
Edging around a coffin that blocked my path, I pulled a face. I really hoped these coffins and sarcophagi were empty, but I wouldn’t put it past the Sovereigns to do something sadistic like trap the bodies of people who’d upset them here.
A rumble built in the air as the ground shook again. I plastered a hand on the wall to steady myself, barely avoiding an urn that toppled to the floor and shattered. A new crack zigzagged along the ground, and debris rained down and pattered my skull. Fuck.